2013 Ironman Lake Placid

2013 Lake Placid Ironman “JUST FINISH!”

This HUGE event took place in the absolutely gorgeous setting of Lake Placid, New York. One could see beautiful mountains, gorgeous rivers or lakes just about anywhere you looked and then there is the magnificent Olympic Park and venues all around. It was an EPIC race in a perfect environment for everyone from spectators to beginner, amateur and professional athletes to truly enjoy.
Race morning was perfect. The weather was cool (low 70’s) and there was a bit of an overcast with rain from time to time. I remember being very nervous (again) because this was my 1st Ironman and well I really wanted to finish it. The race started with an open 2.4 mile swim the beautiful Mirror Lake. It was a 2 loop swim course where you have to get out of the water after completing the 1st loop run over timing mats and then re-enter the water for the second loop. The pro men were sent off at 6:26 a.m. and then the pro women at 6:28 a.m. Shortly after that the rest of the large mass of athletes were sent off seeded by their swim times.
I got to the swim start early to get in a good warm-up. The crowd that was there to cheer on the athletes was growing larger and larger minute by the minute. The atmosphere was very exciting and completely BREATH TAKING. The pro men and women were allowed to warm up at the swim start. They opened warm ups to the pros close to 5:45 a.m. and I quickly dove in and began swimming out and back. After the warm up the men were sent off by the sound of a loud canon. Andy Potts was back to defend his 2012 title along with several other pros from all around the world. The women’s field also consisted of athletes from all around. The cannon sounded the second time and the pro women quickly started to begin the first leg of what was going to be a VERY LONG DAY OF RACING!
I started the first ½ mile of the swim pushing it hard trying to get on the feet of the top 3 females. I slowed a little wanting to pace myself correctly to finish the swim feeling good. I swam on my own heading to shore and letting a few of the others go. This being my first Ironman I did not want to chance going too hard in the beginning. I continued to swim back to shore of the first loop and felt another pro female on my feet. I pulled out and slowed and she pulled ahead and I quickly jumped behind her and on her feet to draft off her and conserve my energy. We finished the first loop running up back onto shore over the timing mats and then entering the lake again for the second loop. I kept staying on the feet of the female pro but now we were among thousands of age group athletes all swimming the same course and of all different abilities. The pros were allowed to swim on the inside of the buoys but most swim around the turn buoys. I chose to leave the pro female I was following and moved to the inside of the buoys. I was hoping for some open water but this was not the case (lol). The age groupers were swimming on both sides of the buoys too so this made it tough because there were thousands to go around and trying to find the best and fastest lines was not easy. I kept to the inside and just weaved in and out. I occasionally tried to get on the feet of some age group men coming up from behind me. I went around the turn buoys and headed back to shore to complete the 2nd loop and finish the 2.4 mile swim leg. As I was approaching were I was to exit the water there were hundreds of athletes of all abilities all exiting the water and then going for their second loop. I had to basically get in line and wait to exit the water. It was very tough to get around so many athletes in just a small area with most of them going to their second lap when I was trying to finish. I lost a lot of time just trying to exit the swim (this frustrated me).
I made it to T1 running up the shoot getting my wetsuit taken off by the wetsuit strippers and then headed out onto the VERY HILLY 112 mile bike course. My energy levels after the swim were GREAT. I felt like the pace I did on the swim was good (minus loosing time while waiting to exit the swim finish). As I started the beginning of the 1st 56 mile loop I was happy and passing some of the female pros who came out in front of me from the swim. I was doing my best to keep my power numbers were they needed to be so I could finish this long race to the best of my ability.
This bike course consists of 2 loops and each loop is 56 miles of HILLS. The loop starts off with some steep descending and you have to go slow or you will crash and not make some of the turns. Then it goes into some climbing. Then you do a pretty large 5 mile descent that is very windy with drop offs on the edges of the turns. There was a beautiful river w/rocks running along the side of parts of it. It’s a bit scary if you haven’t road this decent before or are not use to it but at the same time the views through it were absolutely beautiful. You shouldn’t look at them if you’re riding and going full speed down (not breaking) but if you’re driving the course well then ENJOY! I drove the course prior and saw this intimidating 5ish mile decent and knew I had to ride it to make myself more comfortable with going down it fast and safely during the race and so I did so on Sat. and that helped me a little in the race.
I started the bike and completed the first couple of short steep descents and then some decent climbing. This brought me to the 5 mile decent in the rain and on wet roads. I was a bit nervous and scared to say the least but I felt somewhat confident because I road this decent on Sat. and I felt that I’d be able to manage it fine. I told myself that I just have to be cautious. You never know if someone is going to go down in front of you or if a car or another athlete is going to swerve and head toward you? You have to look out for rocks, pot holes, dirt, un-even pavement and the list goes on and on. As I’m approaching the decent one of the male athletes looks over to me and says “This rain is going to make this decent very interesting.” I knew he was right and I could feel my heart pounding a bit more as I was beginning to descend. I didn’t break for the first steep sections and made it down fine. This gave me more confidence for the next section that was even steeper and longer and consisted of more turns with drop offs on the edge. I tried not to break but I finally gave in to some nerves and did break a little. I made it down the decent fairly fast and safe. I was happy I passed another female pro on the decent and was pulling closer to the leaders.
It was around mile 30ish that I could tell something was wrong. I felt the power I was pushing on my pedals was not matching my speed. I kept pushing forward and sure enough the women I passed prior were now passing me and I did not understand it (come to find out I had gotten a partial flat on my back tubular and it was losing air and causing for me to slow on the bike) I was even getting passed by others. I was getting very frustrated but I knew I had to continue because of my 3 AMAZING friends who were also competing in this Ironman. They all just wanted to finish and told me “JUST FINISH.” I have to say if it wasn’t for them I may have dropped out of this race. I am very THANKFUL to them and look forward to competing in many more races with them in the future. I did keep pushing forward and I had to not look at the numbers and just go with how I felt and my breathing. My goal was to finish this, my first Ironman with 3 AMAZING friends. I kept at the bike and kept myself in check knowing I still had a marathon to run after. I kept on top of my nutrition and kept to everything my AWESOME triathlon coach instructed me to do.
I entered T2 dying to get off the bike because I knew something was up and I thought it was me? Maybe my back was out of alignment or my hip (those were both hurting and cramping through most of the bike but I’ve been dealing with this issue in training too) or who knows. It was over and now it was onto the run. I received amazing volunteer service from the women in T2 and quickly put on my run shoes, number belt and visor and headed out onto the hilly 26.2 mile run course.
The marathon run course consisted of 2 repeat sections (kind of like a loop but not LOL). It was a long out and back to the Ironman village then a small out and back to other side of the Ironman village and then you repeated this again. It sounds confusing but it was just GREAT because as an athlete you get to enjoy the crowd cheering and keeping you going when you want to quit. It is really such a surreal experience and one I will never ever forget.
I started the run feeling good. My breathing felt great, my legs felt good and I knew I could actually finish this race. I kept running and made it away from the village to the long out and back section. I was beginning to feel my lower back and hip tight and cramping so I had to slow down a bit and try to keep a pace that would get me to the finish. I kept telling myself the goal is to finish. You just have to finish and you can, just don’t give up and keep moving. I ran most of the course but had to walk at the water stops and some of the hills. I never have been pushed by such amazing volunteers and crowds of people standing on the side lines. All of them screaming out my name and my number and telling me “You can do it!” “You look great!” “Keep going!” It was just awesome receiving so much encouragement that even when I did feel bad I would then hear their voices and it would keep me going. It was a wonderful experience and one that I’ll never forget. I’d like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Ironman Lake Placid and ALL THE STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND ALL THOSE THAT MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN! IT ROCKS! I happily finished the run and crossed the finish line in a time of 10:56.13. I think getting the flat and loosing air on my tubular caused my bike time to be slower than what I believe I could have done.
I stayed at the race to watch my friends cross the finish line and while I was waiting I decided to pack up some of my gear. I was shocked (at that time) to notice that my back tubular was pretty flat. It had maybe 40ish (if that) pounds of air in it. Everything began to come together about how I felt on the bike and what was going on. I was shocked but at least I got some understanding out of it and most of all VERY HAPPY to have still finished my 1st ever Ironman. I have to say a HUGE THANK YOU to: my family, Yvonne Wandless, Ken Johnson & Bill Austin along with everyone involved in putting on Ironman Lake Placid. I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for my family and friends telling me “JUST FINISH” or if it wasn’t for the GREAT support of the volunteers, workers and crowds at the race... Then I may have missed a TRULY HAPPY moment in life by crossing that finish line. THANK YOU!
CONGRATULATION TO YVONNE WANDLESS, KEN JOHNSON AND BILL AUSTIN FOR COMPLETING THE VERY CHALLENGING 2013 IRONMAN LAKE PLACID! IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND I’M HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT WITH ALL OF YOU!